Electrical vibrating device in combination with a cushion



S. L. M NAIR ELECTRICAL VIBRATING DEVICE IN COMBINATION WITH A CUSHIONJune 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed'Nov. 25, 1957 L LJ U JM ,1. BY

June 24, 1958 s. L. MCNAIR ELECTRICAL VIBRATING DEVICE IN COMBINATIONWITH A CUSHION Filed Nov. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States PatentG ELECTRICAL VIBRATING DEVICE IN COM- BINATION WITH A CUSHION Samuel L.McNair, Whitman, Mass. Application November 25, 1957, Serial No. 698,795

6 Claims. (Cl. 12833) This invention relates to an electrical vibratingdevice for use in combination with a resilient cushion.

Reference is made to my patent application Serial No. 668,137, filingdate June 26, 1957, for an Electrical Vibrating Device.

One object of my invention is to provide a resilient cushion having anopening to receive an electrically operated vibrating device. Theresiliency of the cushion combined with the vibrations of the deviceprovide a gentle, vibratory movement of the head and neck, or any otherpart of the body that rests upon, or contacts the cushion. A healthfulrelaxation is thus attained, while receiving a massage through saidvibrations.

Another object is to provide such a device that can be used separatelyfrom the cushion for other purposes.

A further object is to provide such a construction that the cost ofmanufacture is relatively low, thus bringing the invention within theprice range of the ordinary consumer.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed bythe drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render itsusceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I amnot to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor tothe particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled toall such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my electrical vibrating device and aresilient cushion enclosing it.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a casing member.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another casing member.

As illustrated, my vibrating device has a casing or supporting meanswhich includes a saucer-shaped, casing member and another saucer-shaped,casing member 12. These two vibration transmitting members are spacedapart by four spacers or posts 14 having reduced threaded ends 16. Atthe two opposite ends of said spacers 14 are retainer portions 18 whichare integral with said casing members 10 and 12. Said threaded ends 16extend through said retainer portions 18, being held by nuts 17, tothereby maintain said spacers in predetermined position. Thisarrangement keeps said casing members 10 and 12 properly positioned inrigid predetermined opposing relationship and spaced apart, as at 19, toprovide for circulation of air and to permit casing members to vibratein phase unison when vibrations are transmitted to one of them.

Attached to said casing member 10 by screws 20 is a leg 22 of aU-shaped, vibrating member or clapper 24. This latter member projectsinto open space between said casing members 10 and 12, thus being freeto vibrate unattached above said casing member 10.

Vibrating means in the form of an electric motor 26 is formed by clapper24 and a coil and core assembly attached to another leg 28 of saidclapper 24 and is held thereby, as shown in said Fig. 3. In operation,the vibration of said motor 26 vibrates leg 28 of said clapper member24, thus causing vibration of the device itself which vibration istransmitted by members 10 and 12 in a manner hereinafter described. Arectifier 30, shown attached to said casing member 10 by a bolt 32 andnut 34, may be used to increase the intensity of said vibrations whenconnected in the following described manner:

An electrical connector plug 36, which may be connected to a suitablesource of electricity, has a wire 38 extending therefrom to said motor26. When said rectifier 30 is used, another wire 40 extends to it fromsaid motor 26, and another wire 42 extends from said rectifier to saidplug 36. Both said wires 38 and 42 extend through a strain reliefbushing 44 mounted in said casing member 12.

The foregoing provides vibrating means, adaptable for use separately, ifdesired. It is especially effective when used in combination with aresilient cushion, such as illustrated, particularly in said Fig. 3.

As illustrated, I provide a resilient cushion 46 including twosubstantially parallel resilient members 48 and 50, which may be made offoam rubber, for instance, and which have inner surfaces in facingrelationship and are positioned respectively in contacting relationshipbelow and above said casing members 10 and 12, as shown. They surroundthe latter and extend beyond to provide side extension portions 52 and54 respectively of said cushions 48 and 50, and which may be ofadditional thickness at points beyond said casing members 10 and 12, asshown in said Fig. 3. It is preferable to leave some space 56 betweensaid resilient members 48 and 50 to permit circulation of air.

Said resilient cushion 46 preferably includes a flexible cover or outerenclosure member 58 having a pair of outer surfaces which member may bemade of cloth or plastic, for instance, having vent holes 60therethrough, and shown evenly beaded at the edges as at 62. Thisenclosure member, which is in planar contact with the outer surfaces ofsaid resilient members 48 and 50, is provided with an opening which isclosed by the usual sliding fasteners 64. At one end of said openingsaid electrical wires 38 and 42 preferably pass through to connect withsaid plug 36.

Both the vibrating device and said resilient cushion 46 cooperate inproviding a pleasant massage, since the two resilient members 48 and 50receive the vibratory motion, transmitting it in gentler form, throughtheir qualities of resilience, to the person in contact with thisassembly.

What I claim is:

1. A vibrating cushion comprising, in combination, a flexible coverpresenting a pair of outer surfaces, a resilient foam structure enclosedwithin said cover and formed by two substantially parallel foam cushionportions with inner surfaces in facing relationship and with outersurfaces in planar contact with said cover throughout the area of saidouter surfaces thereof, and a vibration de vice positioned between saidinner surfaces of said foam structure and including a first vibrationtransmitting member in contact with one of said inner surfaces of saidfoam cushion structure and a second vibration transmitting member incontact with the other of said inner surfaces of said foam cushionstructure, said vibration transmitting members being in opposedrelationship, said device also including means holding said vibrationtransmitting members in rigid predetermined opposing position withrespect to each other whereby said vibrationtransmitting members vibratein phase unison when vibrations are transmitted to one of them, saiddevice also including a vibration producing electric motor comprising afield coil and core assembly and also comprising a clapper having aportion thereof positioned to be magnetically attracted by, and biasedagainst relative movement toward said coil and core assembly wherebyupon energization of said coil relative motion takes place between saidportion and said coil and core assembly, and said device also includingmeans mounting said motor on one of said vibration transmitting members,whereby vibrations are produced by said motor and are transmitted bysaid vibration transmitting members through the respective foam cushionportions to the outer surfaces of said flexible cover.

2. A vibrating cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clappercomprises a U-shaped mounting bracket for said coil and core assemblyhaving one leg fixed to one of said'vibration transmitting members andhaving said coil and core assembly mounted upon the other leg.

3. A vibrating cushion as claimed in claim 2, which References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,312 Muckle Nov. 1,1938 2,589,322 Archer 'Mar. 18,1952 2,687,717 Murphy Aug; 31, 19542,768,621 Wahl Oct; 30, 1956 2,786,465 Moxley Mar. 26, 1957 2,809,631Smith et al. Oct. 15, 1957

